Cotton Mather Quotes

A collection of quotes by Cotton Mather.

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) was a prominent New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, into a distinguished family of Puritan clergy, with his father Increase Mather also being a renowned theologian and president of Harvard College.

Cotton Mather became known for his prolific writing and his role in the religious and political affairs of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was a strong advocate for traditional Puritan beliefs and practices and played a significant role in the Salem witch trials, although later in life, he expressed regret for his involvement.

Mather's most famous work is "Magnalia Christi Americana" (1702), a comprehensive history of the early settlement of New England and the lives of the colony's leading figures. He also wrote extensively on various theological and moral subjects.

Despite his controversial involvement in the witch trials, Mather made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and science. He championed inoculation against smallpox during one of the deadliest smallpox epidemics in Boston in 1721, although this approach was met with significant resistance at the time.

Cotton Mather's writings and influence had a lasting impact on both religious and intellectual life in colonial America. He remains a complex and controversial figure in American history, admired for his intellectual achievements but also criticized for some of his actions and beliefs.